Couple of silly Newbie Questions???

First off, I'd like to apologize for my ignorance, but I was hoping maybe someone could answer a couple questions for me...

1. How exactly do you extract an image from it's background in order to add it to another picture?

Let me explain better...I created some cool 3D text with the Xara3d program, I saved it as a GIF and opened it in Photoshop 6. Now, what I would like to do is cut the text out and add it to another pic in photoshop. I know how to cut things out with the marquee and lasso tools, but I was hoping there was an easier way to do it without having to go in and click on every nook and cranny of the text.

2. This is silly, but what filter is used to make a grid pattern?

Thanks in Advance.

1. Type in "selections with photoshop" in a search engine.

2. Type in "making grids with photoshop" in a search engine.

I apologize for taking up your valuable time.

Please do not report posts unless they are offensive, such as contains vulgar language, demeaning remarks, etc.

Because you don't agree with, or get an exact reply, does not make it a valid post to report.

Although he could have been more helpful with his answer, I can't totally disagree with him. Search engines would probably turn up those answers, for sure with the extraction question.

bah,

I tell ya........ *shaking head*

Welcome to the group LuMac.

On your first question....
When I'm looking to make an extraction I rarely stray from the "pen" tool. Photoshop does have that new extract tool, I just don't like the results as well as I do if I lay down every node of the path.

BUT
I do go thru a regiment of things before I start zooming in and going to town making a path with the pen tool.

1) can I make my needed selection via "selective COLOR
2) look in my "Channels" pallet.... do any of the channels have a good defining line from which to make my needed selection/
3) can I use the high pass filter to give me a defined line seperating my subject from its background.

now some of that is WAY to involved to run off typing "how to" in this post. I suggest, first, open photoshop.....go to the help menu and read up on "selections", "the pen tool", "extract tool".... heck read em all.... I did.
Then look for tutorials on the same.

That said, Really the pen tool is the way to go, It takes ALOT of practice, but the results are great.

Second question:
The easiest way I have found iis to use the "weave" filter from the eyecandy package.... set it to a really thin weave.
Another way is to make a 10 pixel by 10 pixel white background document in photoshop, ctr + A to select all and then stroke your selection with black...... makeing a white box with a black outline.... ctr+A again and go to >Edit >Define pattern

Then you can fill any layer you wish with a grid... set it to multiply as a blend mode and you are in bussiness.

again check out some tutorials on the subject by finding them on a search engine. This site even has a tutorial on grid lines I think.

Hope this helps.

Don't take 'short' answers personally. Some questions are a bit too involved to cover in here--they need the added info found in a tutorial. Here are some good selection tutorials from this site:


lasso

color select

magic wand

channels

Another good tip is to use the search engine within this forum to see if a topic or question has been covered in the past!

Welcome to the group.

Generally I don't answer easy questions because they have already been covered in depth either here in the forum before, or on this site, or on another site, and it's easy to find them in the search engine for the forum or the internet. So I don't see the need to write out a big long description again.

But you got a good answer anyway. Now we can all be happy again.

I'll truly be happy when you get a new sig Deker!

:p

Sorry. It's on my to do list.

Besides the excellent tutorials on this site, there are many other good tutorial sites. You can find some at http://www.photofoolery.com/tutorials.html

There are also short descriptions of what tutorials you'll find at the various sites. Sometimes it helps to look at different tutorials so you can pick and choose which ones are most suited to your needs and learning style.

Good luck.